Carlos Alcaraz has gained an early edge in his highly anticipated Australian Open quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic, leading 6-4 after 54 minutes of intense play on Rod Laver Arena. The match unfolded in front of an electrified crowd on a windy Wednesday night.
Both players exchanged early breaks in the opening three games, with Djokovic capitalizing on Alcaraz’s slow start to go up 2-0. However, the Spaniard quickly found his rhythm, breaking back with a stunning 26-shot rally capped by a backhand winner down the line.
The blustery conditions affected both competitors, with neither fully settling into their best form during the first set. Djokovic took a medical timeout at 4-5 to address an issue with his upper left leg, which was taped. Meanwhile, Alcaraz maintained his composure, using well-timed drop shots to outmaneuver Djokovic and secure the first set. According to Infosys Stats, Alcaraz struck 13 winners compared to Djokovic’s three, with the Serbian showing signs of limited movement and reduced aggression.
At just 21 years old, Alcaraz is chasing history as the youngest player to complete a Career Grand Slam, having already claimed titles at the US Open (2022), Wimbledon (2023, 2024), and Roland Garros (2024). A win against Djokovic would also make him the second player in the Open Era to reach the semifinals at all four majors before turning 22, joining Djokovic, who achieved the feat at age 20 after winning the Australian Open in 2008.
The head-to-head rivalry between the two currently favors Djokovic 4-3, with the Serbian winning their previous two hard-court encounters: a marathon battle in Cincinnati (2023) and another at the Nitto ATP Finals the same year. Alcaraz is still seeking his first victory over Djokovic on this surface.
If Alcaraz advances, he will face second seed Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. Zverev secured his spot by defeating Tommy Paul in four sets earlier in the tournament.
Djokovic, now 37, is vying for an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title and his 25th Grand Slam overall. His last failure to reach the Melbourne semifinals came in 2018, when he was defeated by Hyeon Chung in the fourth round. Despite early challenges in this year’s tournament, Djokovic has shown his class in recent matches, comfortably defeating Tomas Machac and Jiri Lehecka in straight sets.
While Djokovic is aiming to reclaim dominance at the majors after a mixed 2024, Alcaraz is proving to be a formidable challenge, pushing for his seventh Grand Slam semifinal in pursuit of tennis history.